The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-06-03
ANNIES LUCKY ERROR

It Was but the Monday previous, at
Mrs. Moore's, that George Berkeley, after
dancing with me twice in succession,
had asked me if he might have the
pleasure Of eScorting me to the theatre
the next evening.
u should be very happy" But In
stead of sailinE of with him IN all the
glory OF my spring attire / was Obliged
to tell him. when hc called for me, look
ing so handsome too;
Il regret II extremely, but papa wishes
me tc waiI a year or two Yet before go
out with gentlemen; he thinks ME rather
too young"
dare say my papa's conscience must
have emote him, or else my doleful looks
troubled him, for as We were finishing
dessert, he said:
- Annie, il you would like to 60 10 the
theatre tonight, run upstairs and get
ready. will take YOU"
After all, said l, as l mounted the
stairs, 4 can wear my beautiful bonnet;
and perhaps he may be there-who
knuws2"
Ere another hour 1 was absorbed In
the misery OF poor Effie Deans.
turned my head to wipe away the
starting tear, when To- but a little
distance from me. sat George Bcrkley,
with that odiOus Marion Raymond
My tears remained frozen to my eye
lids, and the woes of Jennie and Eflie
vanished ia thin air.
When the play WIS over, rose with
the lnVEci3-e determination TO adiure
his acquaintance at once and for ever
4. for hcr-detestablc creatureI The
tears so blinded my eyes, l could scarce
ly follow papa through the crowd. He
dropped my arm moment to find
the carriage, and l stood chilly and
cold in the damp night air, till / heard
his impatient tone.
Come, Annie, qUickr'
/ dartcI forward, sprang through the
open door. which closed rapidly, and
away we whirled.
Leaning back among the cushions, l
let my pride and grief have full sway.
There was 4 ~ufpcatiU- sensation in my
throat that caused me TO lower the
window by my side, when q gruf voice
exclaimed:
Good heavens, Maria what do you
want any more cold air IN here for? am
nearly frozen nowr
Merciful heavens who was that?
Where was l? Surely that was not
papa's voice.
At this moment . ray from a passing
GasAght shone upon the opposite seat,
and to my horror and Gismay, instead
of the gray hair and placid brow of
papa, was = mass OF very black hair a
heavy moUstache, keen black eve, and
a most formidable counteuance.
Was Just about c=saying one DESPERATE
shrlek-''Iapai papa, when my ami
able raS-G-rts spoke again:
Maria, what makes you so sulky? 1
hope, the next time you 20 To the theatre
Tor instance You'd be sweet enough
for him. 1 dare say. Maria, are you
asleep"
l held my breath In agony.
Who could he be: He surely could
not have murdered papa and stolen his
carriage. But this bloodthir-ty idea was
abandoned as soon as formed. when
suddenly, clear Us the MONDAY, il be-
came apparent. l, in ny blindness, had
sprung into the wrong carriagel And
" Maria - Could il be- Yes: she had
doubtless been left on the pavement as
the vehicle rolled away.
The rain by this time was falling so
heavily that the idea of exposing nv
self 10 its influence was extremely
disagreeable-cspccia as I rollectad
II was near twelve o'clock. and l
had not the most remote idea of whore
1 was. Poor papa-what would he think
had become of meY
Here new thought flashed across
me-possibly that unknown Maria had
taken my carriage, as / had hers; IL
so, papa would bring her back and re-
cover me As | arrived at this com
fortiHS conclusion, the carriage stopped.
My companion gave me an energetic.
push, cxciaiming:
Come, Maria, wake up! We're home"
And jumping out, mechanically ac-
cepted his offered hand, and stepped out
In the binding rain. The carriage
quickly rolled away, and l hurried IN
the steps of what appeared to be a
fine structure.
found myself in a handsome lofty
hall, with frescoed walls and inIaId
discernible by dimIy
burning light, held by a marble
nymph that stood in q nlehe of the
staircase.
He locked and barred the heavy douhIe
doors, and while thus engaged. the
thought occurred to met was evident
my h Sht and general appearance re-
sembleG the absent Mara by keeping
my face turned l might avoid notice TIL
he went upstairs
l would remain in the hall until dav-
break, then HE away home
We'll, sis, said my companion. ..were
Tou dreaming SO inteutly that YOU have
lot awakened yet? I hope for the
,redit Of the family you are not a SOM
iambuIist."
] yawned sleepily by way of reply
Lnd ioiterinSly pretended To follow him
ip the stairs. With three bounds he had
'anished.
:" Now, thought i, as ! silently re-
raced my steps to a large hall-chair.
md seated myself with immense salts
action, "if there are no ghosts or gohlins
n this enchanted realm, ! shall Toe very
cry well content to remain here TIL
morning. Good heavens what's
hat?''
The gas which had been undisturbed, |
ow burned brightly, and looking up l
aw the letreating figure ofmy quondam
minus coat and boots, and
card his football coming down what ap-
cared 10 be a back stairway.
He entered a room at the further
Of the hall, and soon reap
cared with book in his hand
- Doubtless" thought i, d" he will
7turn the same way, so / won't get
-ightened."